Chapter 5

Cause and Effect

Hello fans! It's been a while since I last updated...sorry about that! I had to get this chappie right though...so that's the reason for the wait. Anyhoo...a special thankies to Sage of Downtown Hyrule, Uma-Isuzu-Chan, Rubedo Kukai Jr. and A.M.Bookworm247. Your support and help is greatly appreacated and makes me want to write whenever I read your comments. Thank you very much. Enough of my rambling...here's chappeie 5!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or it's ideas, characters, plot, etc. Just the books...

(Back to the Present) Kyo touched his face in the spot where Akito had slapped him so many years ago, as if it still stung horribly.

"He's right," said Kyo. "I can't protect you. No matter what, or how much I want to guard you, he can and probably will hurt you." Tohru edged closer to him, as if Akito was charging out of the shadows no to attack her.

"It won't matter as long as I have you…Kyo. You have kept your promise no matter what you choose to say."

"I wouldn't have had to if Kyoko-San hadn't died." Tears trickled down Tohru's face at the mention of her mother's death. Kyo noticed and gently wiped them away with his shirtsleeve, so he could continue without any distractions. (Back to the Flashback)

The phone rang. Kyo's mother, anxious for her son's safe return, jumped at the sound. She had been staring out the window so intently, watching everywhere, waiting for an orange head to come bobbing up. Mother's instinct told her it was about Kyo. Picking up the receiver, she said hesitantly,

"Moshi…moshi…?"

"Akito-Sama requests that you come to collect Sohma Kyo at this time. Thank you for your cooperation," a hostess said before promptly hanging up. Kyo's mother gasped, before dashing out to get Kyo. The phone dangled on its cord, slowly swaying back and forth.

"Kyo? Kyo- are you here?" His mother called. Akito's room was now covered in a shadowy darkness.

"Get away from me," said a hurt, but still threatening, voice coming from the corner.

"Kyo…" his mother breathed. She hurried over to him. Her foot scraped on an object on the floor. It was his beads. Picking them up, she made her way to Kyo, crying in the corner. She sat down next to him.

"Did Akito-San do something to you again? Whatever he said…it's not true…" his mother tried to console him. Kyo looked at her, his amber eyes gleaming hauntingly in the darkness surrounding them.

"Can't you see me? Look at me. Breathe my scent. Look me in the eye and tell me it's not true." Said Kyo, daring his mother. " Tell me if you think it's not true." His mother looked at him, and forced a weak smile onto her face.

"I see nothing wrong! You are my dear little boy! My darling little Kyo!" He clamped his clawed hands over his ears.

"Stop it! Liar!"

"I'm not lying! Look, let me show you how much I love you!" she leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. He tried to pull away, out of her reach, but she held on even tighter. Then, with a soft Poof! He turned into a fluffy, orange kitten. She slid his beads onto his furry wrist, and carried him home. His tail flared. His claws extended.

"Put…me…down…" he hissed.

"No," said his mother. "I'm showing you that I love you!" Kyo had enough of her filthy lies. He took his claws, and swiped them across her face, leaving three long gashes, running from her left ear to her right jaw. Blood droplets formed, and oozed down her face. She stopped dead in her tracks. She felt her face, felt the warm, crimson blood drip down her face and onto her hand.

"This," she said in a deadly whisper. "Is what you do to me? This is what you do to your only mother? I have done nothing but love you, and this is how you repay me?"

"I hat you! You never loved me! I HATE YOU!" Kyo screamed at her. She snapped. Forcing his mouth open, she took the blood she had collected on her hand, and wiped it on Kyo's tongue. He bit her, drawing even more blood. This, he realized, was her true nature. How she really was behind that cheerful, loving mask she always wore for him. Yelling in agony and pain, she dropped Kyo. He was a bit surprised at this action, but landed on his feet. It took him a second to decide what to do next. He had to run. Run and not look back.

(Back to the Present) Kyo grabbed Tohru's hand. He held it up to his mouth, letting it rub against his teeth.

"This is who I truly am." He said. Tohru looked extremely frightened. She looked like she wanted to pull away, yet Kyo still had a grasp on her hand. He had lowered it from his mouth, and put their conjoined hands on the floor-space between them.

"Please don't leave me. I need you. I just wanted to make sure you remembered who I really am." He said, his pleading eyes boring down into her half frightened ones.

"I won't leave you," said Tohru. "You remember what I said before… It's still true…that night in the rain…" She tightened her grip on his hand in reassurance.

"Her blood was warm. But it was saturated with hate and disdain for me. It burned my mouth, and made me realize who my mother really was." (Back to Flashback)

Kyo ran to the park where he and Kagura played. The Main House was just at the b0ttom of the hill, but he didn't care. As long as he was away her, he didn't care where he was, or whom he was with. Exhausted from both fury and the shock of realization, he looked for a place to spend the night. He spotted a grassy area under a bush. Anything as long as I'm away from her… thought Kyo. He curled up and promptly fell asleep, only to face the day's events in his nightmares.

"That will be 5200 yen, please," said the checkout lady at the local grocery store. Kyo handed over the money. " Thank you and have a nice day!" said the checkout girl sweetly. Kyoko smiled back and made her way home. I wonder what Tohru-Kun will make for dinner tonight. Ohh…I hope it's shugiyaki! thought Kyoko hungrily. She passed the park. She stopped and gazed at the spot where she had first met Kyo. Protect her… I know she will need it in the future… she blinked. I don't remember there being any orange bushes in this park… it clicked. She sprinted over to a now nude little Kyo, sound asleep under the bush.

"Kyo-Chan!" she called out to him as she shook him. "Kyo-Chan! Wake-up!" Kyo slowly opened his eyes.

"Nnnn… oh, it's you, Onee-San!"

"What happened?" asked Kyoko, pulling her green knit-sweater around Kyo.

"Mommy." Said Kyo.

"She did this?"

Kyo nodded.

"Well, you can't stay here," concluded Kyoko. "Do you want to come stay with me?" Kyo's face brightened.

"Hai! Onee-San! Domo Arigato! ( Yes! Big sister! Thank you very much!)" Kyoko smiled as Kyo beamed. She held his hand and walked him home with her.

A week had passed since Kyo came to stay with Kyoko and Tohru. Tohru was up in her room, chatting with Hana on the telephone. Kyo was helping Kyoko wash the dishes. She scrubbed the last traces of a scrumptious dinner, and then handed the plate to Kyo, who dried.

"It's been a week since you left your home," commented Kyoko, washing a bowl. "We should probably get in contact with your mother. She'll want to know you're safe." Kyo stiffened slightly.

"No," said Kyo. " Mommy hates me. She hates me…for what I am…… she doesn't care what happens…"

"What you are?" said Kyoko confused. "What are you then?"

She deserves to know… Kyo persuaded himself.

"A monster," he said, and pulled off his beads. Smoke erupted from his body once again, as he changed into an Oni. His Oni. The plate Kyoko was holding shattered on the floor. Her mind was terrifyingly blank.

"This is what I truly am," the creature said to her. "I am a monster, all I do is hurt people." He leaped. He landed on the street outside, leaving a shoji screen in pieces behind him. He ran. Once again, he found himself running because of this curse.

"Akito-Sama," said Hatori.

"What is it now?" asked Akito, clearly annoyed.

" We have received information that Kyo-San has transformed himself…into his other self, in front of an outsider."

"Take care of it…" said Akito dismissively.

"Yes, Akito-Sama," said Hatori. He bowed, then left. Akito gave a sinister grin.

"Mama?" asked Tohru. She had been alarmed at the sound of breaking dishes, and came down to investigate. Kyoko stood there…not moving, shock written all over her eyes. Looking slowly up at Tohru, she knew then what she had to do.

"Tohru." She said firmly. " Stay here. I'll be right back." And with that, she grabbed the car keys, and went out to look for Kyo.

She found him sitting in the middle of an intersection, staring at the street. She pulled over to him.

"Kyo!" she called out. "Kyo! Please come back with me. It's okay, I'm here now…" Kyo lifted his head.

"You don't…hate me?"

But, before he could get her answer, a black Mercedes car came rumbling down the street. It looked like it was going to hit Kyo. Kyoko, without thinking, jumped out of her car and ran in front of Kyo, blocking him, protecting him. The car hit her dead on. (Back to Present)

Tears slid down Tohru's face.

"I'm sorry." Whispered Kyo. "I had to be honest. I had to tell you. I'm so sorry. It's all of my fault. Everything is…"

"Why?" inquired Tohru.

"All my brushes with love were nothing nut lies…I thought yours was too… I'm sorry for thinking that way." Tohru looked up at him.

"No," she said. "I love you. I really, truly do." Kyo looked up at her. His eyes were wide. She leaned in and kissed tenderly on the cheek. His mind went numb. Her words brought him back to what was in front of him.

"May…ma I stay here, with you?"

"Oh…um…sure…if you want to."

Tohru smiled and fell asleep on the floor next to a sitting Kyo. Kyo stroked her long, chocolate-colored hair. He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight…" He went to sleep on the couch.

Just a quick comment so I don't get alot of questions, Hatori was only going to erase Kyoko's memories. Hitting her was an accident. See you in chappie 6!